- On the upper level of the Gosan map.
A region so high that the radiation heat from the surface does not reach it.
A section existing above the clouds.
The snow-covered tundra was entirely covered in pure white snow, with no ground visible.
If one made even a single misstep,
they would either fall through the deep snow or slip to the edge of a cliff, sure to plummet to their doom.
This white hell, filled with nature’s infinite malice, was being swiftly crossed by Hae Eung-eung without hesitation.
‘My internal energy is still insufficient, so my footprints are still visible.’
Even though she ran without restraint through the middle of the snowy region,
there were no footprints left in the snow,
a state called 답설무흔 (踏雪無痕).
It was a level of skill that could be confidently called mastery of the lightness skill, even in the vast martial world.
In the vast Central Plains of the martial world, 답설무흔 was a form of achievement, proof of a certain level of understanding in martial arts.
‘It’s not so much about the amount of internal energy, but more about the technique. It might become possible soon enough.’
In areas where heavy snow falls,
people wear socks called 설피 over their shoes to avoid sinking into the snow.
Similarly, by using internal energy to disperse weight beneath her shoes, Hae Eung-eung could prevent sinking into the snow.
분(分) - to divide and split
박(薄) - to spread thin and low
항(沆) - to flow widely like water
산(散) - to scatter and spread widely.
With this technique, she could disperse weight and flow it along the ground.
Although her 분박항산 technique did not yet reach the heights of 답설무흔, it was already proof that she had grasped the principles of the Haenampa Guild’s lightness skill.
‘Both swordsmanship and the lightness skill are in a state of stagnation at similar levels of progression.’
The techniques she used against the demon general Bigtro from Ban-yoguk were an example.
탄(彈) - shot like a bullet
합(合) - to focus power at a single point
만(灣) - curved like a wave
곡(曲) - to twist, applying a curve.
The technique called 탄합만곡 could strike repeatedly with the speed of an instantaneous blow, performing a succession of curved strikes without stopping.
파(破) - to break
해(解) - to disrupt
These were the basics of 파해식 and 산공독, the foundational elements of Sacheondangga’s breakthrough techniques in the martial arts.
‘Although I understand the principles of these techniques, I still lack the power to fully execute them in battle.’
Not in terms of physical strength, nor internal energy.
Of course, she possessed the legendary cheat-like ability of residual points, which allowed her to increase her strength at any time.
‘Not yet, though.’
Using the residual points would quickly raise her abilities, but once the points were exhausted, stagnation would return. She would then need to make even greater efforts to increase her stats.
That’s why it was better to train while her stats were still low and increase them through effort.
‘To escape the Guumjeolmyeok, I need to gather three Gapsja of internal energy. Not a single free point can be wasted.’
The free points given when one advances in martial arts correspond to each level achieved. The amount may seem limitless when viewed from the outside, but there are restrictions imposed by the level system.
At the lower levels, only third-rate techniques can be used to reach level 100. At the intermediate levels, second-rate techniques can raise abilities to level 200. And at the top levels, only first-rate techniques allow for progression to level 300.
The climb is hard, but the more experience one gains, the more one must rely on understanding and techniques to advance. The lower-level techniques will not help and would only waste valuable time.
‘Still, the insights I’ve already gained are powerful weapons.’
The state of Martial Arts Chronicle contains contradictions. There are many techniques at the lower levels, but it’s difficult to find higher-level techniques. The higher one’s level, the more techniques they must learn to advance, which doesn’t logically make sense.
‘That’s why a skilled master who has achieved enlightenment can use lower-level techniques and turn them into higher-level ones.’
A master who has achieved enlightenment can naturally integrate the core of their elevated techniques into lower-level skills. Even a basic third-rate technique can, with enlightenment, be transformed into a second-rate one.
‘Just like now.’
With the dispersed power spreading outward, an avalanche began to form, accompanied by dirt and rocks crashing down with snow in a catastrophic disaster.
[By merging the enlightenment with the Samjaebo technique, your martial level increases. (Third-rate → Second-rate)]
[Movement technique]
[Samjaebo] (1st rank) (Second-rate)
By incorporating the enlightenment into her movement technique, Hae Eung-eung escaped the avalanche with three leaps.
[The Samjaebo technique has reached the 3rd rank.]
[You have gained 3 free points.]
The technique of enlightenment, which can change a technique into something entirely new, was indeed powerful.
‘Of course, just because I’ve gained enlightenment doesn’t mean I can elevate any technique.’
Some techniques don’t harmonize with the enlightenment at all.
If one tries to forcibly integrate a technique that doesn’t fit, the technique will become chaotic and lose its effectiveness, often resulting in a temporary debuff.
Trying to forcibly fuse it with internal energy could even cause a pathology, making the user vulnerable to further harm.
Those with lower wisdom often struggle to gain enlightenment and, even when they do, cannot invent new techniques without a teacher’s guidance.
‘For me, investing in wisdom was the best decision I could make.’
The choice to invest in wisdom, second only to charm, was, in retrospect, the most prudent decision.
‘But to progress beyond this point, I’ll need more than the promotion of Samjaebo.’
Using the Jumping Rabbit method to traverse mountain heights, every 100th floor of a mountain level changes its theme. From the snow-covered mountain at the 800th floor to the extreme cold at the 900th floor, beyond lies a jetstream-filled wind zone above 10,000 meters on the 1000th floor.
‘At this point, it's a true battle against nature.’
The jetstreams, ranging from 65 km/h to 130 km/h, pose a significant challenge. The strength of the winds can even cause trees to break and make walking into the wind impossible.
‘Fighting against the wind is impossible.’
Reading the direction of the wind from the fluttering sleeves, Hae Eung-eung read the trajectory of the sand grains she threw to gauge the wind’s strength and direction. It was a difficult challenge, but it wasn’t her first.
‘The Zegal sect, one of the five great families of the martial world, was skilled in controlling wind with their formation techniques.’
Having fought in many great battles, she had either received help from or faced off against the masters of Zegal sect. To survive, one had to learn how to navigate through the winds and break through the natural barriers.
Without the Zegal sect’s scrolls, she knew she would have no hope.
[You’ve reached the 1100th floor.]
[The floor theme changes to Snowstorm Zone.]
[The Trial of the Mountain appears.]
[The wind intensity sharply increases.]
[The Whiteout phenomenon is permanently triggered on this floor.]
Currently, 11,000 meters up, with only 111 meters to the summit, Hae Eung-eung instinctively felt that this final hurdle would be even harder than everything she had faced up until now.
A quick throw of sand confirmed that the direction of the wind was downward.
It was no ordinary breeze.
<Second-rate Technique> <**Tanjigong**>
She used internal energy to propel the sand forward, but even with the focused internal energy, the sand was unable to pierce through the thick jetstream.
‘At least it’s not turbulence.’
Though the wind shifted randomly, it wasn’t the kind of extreme trial that would make her lose her way. Yet, she couldn’t get through with the same method she had been using. She had neither the internal energy to cut through the wind nor the strength to ride it.
‘Could this be the end?’
The thought of giving up crossed her mind. She knew it wasn’t an essential battle. But still, she didn’t want to give up.
‘But I’m still curious.’
Through the thick clouds, standing where the ground and sky became indistinguishable, Hae Eung-eung felt the movement of the sand grains she had thrown, using that as an indicator of the wind's force, calculating the necessary strength to break through.
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Even in the face of nature’s overwhelming power, the martial artist’s steadfast spirit refused to back down.
She wasn’t going to give up. No matter how strong nature’s enemy was, she wanted to test her martial arts against it.
‘I've lived a life without freedom for so long.’
Locked in the imperial palace, hunted through the martial world, tormented by the blood sect’s mark, and constrained by the revenge of a lost sect and the burdens of unfulfilled desires.
—“No one stands in your way anymore, so why choose death, intoxicated by empty fame?”
—“Go back, Shingumilhu. You may not have become the strongest in the world, but you are recognized as the strongest in the martial world.”
—“Leave behind the earthly grudge and live your own life. This is my first and last mercy.”
Only after receiving the recognition of the strongest in the world, she was freed from the earthly shackles.
She finally became free after receiving the recognition of being the strongest in the world.
Remembering the man who had allowed her to return to Earth, Hae Eung-eung quietly wondered to herself.
‘Do you think he could do it?’
Like a final trial to reach heaven, the earth-shaking force was pushing her against the final barrier. No matter how hard she tried, she could not picture him overcoming this challenge in her mind.
—“What reason is there for you to grow so strong, considering you couldn’t even return to Earth at the easiest difficulty?”
—“What a silly question. The title of the strongest in the world is still a limit for mere humans. My goal lies beyond that.”
—“The greatest under heaven, surpassing even the gods. That is the path I walk.”
In the endless struggle against the God of Wind, in the deadly battle that never ends, despite knowing what kind of trials the elders of the Extremity of Cold Winds are going through, the man, who once wanted to subdue the heavens and open the gates of paradise by defeating the God of Wind, couldn’t even surpass this level.
She could not fathom that sight.
‘I see. I still haven’t forgotten the path he showed me.’
Even after escaping all earthly burdens, she was still not truly free. The Jumping Rabbit ascent challenge had shown her that the world itself, with its boundless nature, was something she had to fight. The path to heaven could only be opened by cutting through it with a single sword.
When she witnessed the myth’s first chapter, with her own sword piercing through the gates of heaven, she realized that she had accepted a new restraint—martial arts.
‘At that time, I just wanted to go back.’
She had gone through so much and her body was worn out. But now, after the pain had subsided, the desire to master the martial arts had reignited in her heart.
‘I no longer wish for the power that encompasses heaven and earth.’
But if she were in this small world, without the man, perhaps—just perhaps—standing at the pinnacle of this world alone wasn’t beyond her.
‘Maybe I can do it.’
Her sword, as if responding to her thoughts, hummed fiercely, releasing a dark aura. With a smile, she charged toward the trial of the High Mountain, a trial once thought impossible to surpass without special items.
<Geochungcheon (御氣衝天)
The soaring technique of controlling the energy to shoot toward the heavens. Even though it defies the natural laws, the wax wings, which allowed one to fly in the air, melted as they flew toward the sun, resulting in their fall, much like the myth of Icarus.
No matter how intense the wind, no matter how small Hae Eung-eung seemed in comparison to nature’s vast power, she knew she had a way to fight against it.
‘One moment is enough.’
Even when unleashing a higher-level martial art, as long as it didn’t reach the level of 5 stars, the system’s level-up judgment wouldn’t activate.
‘I don’t need to take everything.’
A single basic technique, even if it didn’t reach the standard of a full strike, would be enough.
In a single instant, a single slash, a single thought—the focus of that moment.
<Hwasanpa’s Peak Martial Style>
<Jahageomgyeol>
A technique of swordsmanship, stripped of all other techniques, forming a single movement. One of the smallest units of martial arts, its core lies in its fundamental power.
<First Strike>
<Jayo Mangrin (滋擾望躪)
The very first strike within the system.
At the very moment of execution, the massive air pressure split in half, breaking the wall of wind.
[The Silent Swordsman has reached the summit.]
[Jumping Rabbit Map – The Legend of the High Mountain has been conquered.]
It was the moment when a swordsman cleaved through nature itself.